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Virgin Atlantic returns to Dubai – flights start in late October

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Virgin Atlantic is returning to Dubai!

Whilst a relatively obvious move, given the ability of Virgin Holidays to drive a lot of volume to the route, Virgin Atlantic CEO Shai Weiss did say to me – in a private 1-1 chat late last year – that it was never going to happen. You can’t trust anyone these days ….

The only frustrating move is that the route is starting half way through October half term (for those who get a two week half term break) which seems a missed opportunity.

Virgin Atlantic returns to Dubai

This is one of two routes announced today. You can read about Virgin’s new Manchester to Las Vegas route in this article.

Virgin Atlantic has added a Dubai page to its website which you can find here.

Here are the details:

  • Flights will launch on 28th October 2023
  • It is described as a ‘seasonal service’ which implies that it will only run between late October and late March
  • Seats, for cash and Virgin Points, will be bookable from 7th June – do NOT try to book today
  • There will be four flights per week, departing Heathrow on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
  • The route will use a Boeing 787-9, which means you are getting the old-style Upper Class seat, unfortunately. The layout is 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight / Classic / Light. Upper Class image below.
Virgin Atlantic 787 Upper Class cabin 2

What are the flight timings?

Not great, frankly, but Dubai is always difficult because of the flight time and the overnight closure of Heathrow.

It is an overnight flight to Dubai, leaving Heathrow Terminal 3 at 17.35 and landing in Dubai at the unsocial hour of 04.40.

The return is much better, leaving Dubai at 13.00 and arriving into Heathrow at 17.05.

It still means that the aircraft is sitting on the ground in Dubai for eight hours, which is a bad use of a $300m (at list price) asset.

As noted above, seats will go on sale on 7th June. Virgin Atlantic availability normally pops up at around 5am because the airline operates on Delta’s systems which are set to New York time.

You can find out more on this special page of the Virgin Atlantic website.

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How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards

How to earn Virgin Points from UK credit cards (April 2025)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Virgin Points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

You can choose from two official Virgin Atlantic credit cards (apply here, the Reward+ card has a bonus of 18,000 Virgin Points and the free card has a bonus of 3,000 Virgin Points):

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard

18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review

Virgin Atlantic Reward Mastercard

3,000 bonus points, no fee and 1 point for every £1 you spend Read our full review

You can also earn Virgin Points from various American Express cards – and these have sign-up bonuses too.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is FREE for a year and comes with 20,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 20,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express comes with 50,000 Membership Rewards points, which convert into 50,000 Virgin Points.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Small business owners should consider the two American Express Business cards. Points convert at 1:1 into Virgin Points.

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Virgin Points. 

Category

Virgin Atlantic and Flying Club

Comments (72)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Tarmohamed says:
    1 Jun1 June 15:19

    As above, finally something I can use my Virgin 241 Vouchers and points for after they dropped Pakistan.

  • James says:
    1 Jun1 June 15:24

    Can you use a companion voucher but pay cash for an infant?

  • Lee says:
    1 Jun1 June 15:49

    When are they going to announce ICN flight

  • James says:
    1 Jun1 June 16:01

    Does anyone know how much cash fares are expected to be?

  • Adam says:
    1 Jun1 June 16:07

    This is defo a missed opportunity. Our half term is two weeks from 16-27 Oct. Would have been good to have tried this. Booked at the JA Lake View – which will be decent! Anyone got any experience of the JA Resorts?

    • mart says:
      1 Jun1 June 18:08

      Yes stayed last year,rooms facilities goodat the 3 resorts you can use
      food especially the Indian excellent.
      Only thing it’s a bit away from everything else but I guess you knew that and taxis are cheap enough

      • etting says:
        1 Jun1 June 19:55

        Nice one, thanks. Currently booked into their buffet all inclusive package but can upgrade to their dine around for 200AED a day per adult – which seems like a decent deal seeing a beer at one of the not included pools will be 45AED or cocktails 65AED 😂

  • Nick Burch says:
    1 Jun1 June 16:14

    Are Virgin struggling with later evening slots at LHR? Or is the restriction at the Dubai end?

    With a 13:00 departure from Dubai, you probably want an arrival no later than 11:00. Instead of 17.35 – 04.40, I’d have thought they’d have been better with more like 20:30 – 07:45 or 21:30 – 08:45 or 22:30 – 09:45. Seems strange they didn’t, given it makes for nicer flight times and a shorter time parked up.

    Unless DXB has much cheaper parking than LHR and they had a plane effectively spare in London?

    • Richie says:
      1 Jun1 June 16:46

      BTW AF and KL have early afternoon departures to DXB, not sure if you can redeem VS points on their flights.

      • Rob says:
        1 Jun1 June 17:25

        Of course you can – done it, flown it. However, the return flights are 2am, as are the Lufthansa flights. This is the ‘sensible’ time for a European service to depart to maximise the use of the aircraft, eg morning departure from Europe, land in Dubai around midnight, leave around 2am.

        Virgin’s return flights used to be 2am too, which is why they were so unpopular. These new times are more civilised for coming home but less civilised for going out.

    • Travel Strong says:
      1 Jun1 June 18:51

      They used to do exactly this, and it was just perfect:

      Heathrow Airport (LHR)
      To Dubai International Airport (DXB)
      VS 400
      Departing: 22:00 Fri 11 Jul 2014
      Arriving: 08:00 Sat 12 Jul 2014

      Dubai International Airport (DXB)
      To Heathrow Airport (LHR)
      VS 401
      Departing: 11:15 Mon 14 Jul 2014
      Arriving: 16:00 Mon 14 Jul 2014

      • Scott says:
        3 Jun3 June 06:46

        This is exactly right. It used to be perfect and I used it ALL the time. Was gutted when it stopped. Ecstatic it’s back but times are really poor. I’m still curious an Israeli CEO was appointed and then the route to a country where there are historically political tensions and lack of recognition was immediately dropped in favour of Tel Aviv. Hmmmmm I’m super surprised it’s back but the marketing of it was hidden behind the MAN – LAS, the times are not great, it’s seasonal, not 7 days a week, starts half way through school holidays. It feels like “someone” has been told to redirect this route and almost setting it up for a tougher start 🤔
        I hope it bursts all targets. 😘

        • Rob says:
          3 Jun3 June 08:39

          Actually MAN-LAS was buried under LHR-DXB if you got the original announcement!

          Virgin Holidays is clearly driving this.

        • Rhys says:
          3 Jun3 June 08:52

          Shai wasn’t involved in the decision to launch TLV whatsoever.

          The fact that it is now double daily shows how successful it is. Versus BA they have a much bigger focus on kosher food etc which certainly seems to be a selling point – lots of connecting traffic on my recent New York flights.

  • gulz says:
    1 Jun1 June 16:30

    Do you know what sort of miles will be required for redemption seats? Years ago it used to be same amount as india. I hope now its in tel-aviv category this time!

  • etting says:
    1 Jun1 June 20:00

    Just seen this on virgin holidays

    Our new direct Virgin Atlantic service commences 28th October 2023.
    We will operate from London Heathrow four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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